Lacy Foundation
The Lacy Foundation is a private charitable foundation based in Indianapolis, Indiana. Established by the Lacy family in 1973 in memory of Stanley K. Lacy, it says its philanthropic objective is to help Indianapolis become a world-class city in which to live, work, educate, and play.
Lacy Foundation at a glance
In short: Lacy Foundation gave $474K across 44 grants in 2024 (avg $11K), mostly in Indiana. 43% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $473,715
- -27.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 44
- -12.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $10,766
- -17.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $6,250
- Total assets
- $12,206,189
- +3.9% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 43% first-time grantees (19 of 44, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Indiana (99% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Lacy Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. It makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and works primarily with known organizations, programs, and community leaders.
- Contact
Mailing address: 54 Monument Circle Ste 900, Indianapolis, IN 46204
Phone: (317) 237-5400
Website: https://lacydiversified.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Lacy Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Leadership Indianapolis ($105K). Together the top 10 received $298K.
Grant Size Distribution
222 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 215 grants of 222 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says it works primarily in Central Indiana and identifies Indianapolis as the focus of its philanthropic objective. In 2024, 99% of grant dollars went to recipients in Indiana; the filing also lists Ohio, Oklahoma, Illinois, and Texas at 0% each.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 44 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Lacy Foundation open to new grantees?
43%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 19 of 44 grantees (43%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $17K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 55% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 39% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 57% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $474K (2024) to $838K (2022). In 2024 it made 44 grants totaling $474K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Leadership Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN | General Operations | $105,200 |
| Ball State University Foundation Muncie, IN | General Operations | $27,500 |
| Iu Health Foundation Indianapolis, IN | General Operations | $25,000 |
| Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site Indianapolis, IN | General Operations | $20,000 |
| Coburn Place Indianapolis, IN | General Operations | $20,000 |
| Indiana Historical Society Indianapolis, IN | General Operations | $20,000 |
| NINE13 Sports Indianapolis, IN | General Operations | $20,000 |
| Shepherd's Center of Hamilton County Noblesville, IN | General Operations | $20,000 |
| Discovering Broadway Carmel, IN | General Operations | $20,000 |
| Julian Center Indianapolis, IN | General Operations | $20,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Lacy Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $12,206,189 | $1,019,499 | $557,385 | $473,715 | 44 | $476,306 | $997,445 | $829,788 |
| 2023 | $11,744,075 | $760,863 | $737,579 | $655,000 | 50 | $659,865 | $746,647 | $753,201 |
| 2022 | $11,720,791 | $-476,497 | $920,602 | $837,630 | 50 | $840,039 | $315,055 | $737,517 |
| 2021 | $13,117,890 | $1,380,777 | $842,741 | $775,350 | 37 | $777,738 | $1,326,989 | $782,181 |
| 2020 | $12,579,854 | $569,202 | $655,203 | $562,750 | 41 | — | $604,412 | $692,153 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Lacy Foundation reported a distributable amount of $830K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation describes its role as the Lacy family’s commitment to making Central Indiana a thoughtful, caring, and thriving community. Its stated priorities are education, community impact, and arts and culture.
Its 2024 grants illustrate support for a range of organizations. Leadership Indianapolis says its mission is to educate, inspire, connect, and mobilize community leaders to serve and strengthen greater Indianapolis. College Mentors for Kids says it connects children with college students through weekly on-campus activities, while Discovering Broadway says it brings Broadway talent to develop aspiring musicals and creates educational opportunities for local youth and residents. The Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site says it preserves and operates the historic site, and the Indiana Historical Society says it collects, preserves, interprets, and shares Indiana’s history.
The foundation also underwrites the Stanley K. Lacy Executive Leadership Series®. The foundation owns the program and licenses it to Leadership Indianapolis to administer. Since 1976, the series has engaged leaders through educational seminars, placemaking tours, and interaction with experts and decision-makers; it has more than 1,000 graduates. The program is not described as a grant program for outside applicants.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 44 grants totaling $473,715. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $105,200, with a median of $6,250.
The largest 2024 grant was $105,200 to Leadership Indianapolis. Other notable grants included $27,500 to the Ball State University Foundation; $20,000 each to the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site, Indiana Historical Society, Discovering Broadway, and several other organizations; $16,500 to CICP Foundation; and $15,000 to College Mentors for Kids.
The foundation says it does not fund individuals, religious institutions, individual schools, individual research, or organizations for specific health care causes.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation’s 2024 filing lists Jill S. Lacy as president and Jeffrey Dible, Robert S. Kaspar, M. E. Eccles, and Howard J. Lacy IV as trustees.
Lacy Foundation is led by Jill S. Lacy, President on every filing since 2020; 1 of 5 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Jill S. Lacy
President
On filings since 2020
$66K (2020) → $60K (2024)
Howard J. Lacy IV
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Jeffrey Dible
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
M. E. Eccles
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Robert S. Kaspar
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $60K, to Jill S Lacy (President).
Frequently asked questions about Lacy Foundation
How much does Lacy Foundation give each year?
Lacy Foundation gave $474K across 44 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $655K across 50 grants.
What is Lacy Foundation's typical grant size?
Lacy Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $6,250, and its average grant was $10,766, across 44 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Lacy Foundation that year got $3K on average.
Where does Lacy Foundation give grants?
Lacy Foundation gives mostly in Indiana: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Indianapolis, IN (31 grants) and Noblesville, IN (2 grants).
Does Lacy Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Lacy Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (44 of 44) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Lacy Foundation's largest grantees?
Lacy Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Leadership Indianapolis ($105,200), Ball State University Foundation ($27,500) and Iu Health Foundation ($25,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 33% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Lacy Foundation?
Lacy Foundation reported $12.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $476K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $830K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Lacy Foundation fund?
The foundation describes its role as the Lacy family’s commitment to making Central Indiana a thoughtful, caring, and thriving community. Its stated priorities are education, community impact, and arts and culture. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Lacy Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Lacy Foundation's EIN?
Lacy Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7415837. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Lacy Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Lacy Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Christel DeHaan Family Foundation Inc
Indianapolis, IN
Before dissolving in 2024, the Indianapolis-based foundation supported K–12 education in Indiana, arts and culture in Indianapolis, and other discretionary causes. Its giving varied widely: it awarded $212,505 in 2024, compared with $3.5 million in 2022 and $54 million in 2023. It listed a Letter of Inquiry as application material, but the foundation has dissolved and filed a final return.
Assets
—
Grants
1
Total Given
$213K
Duke Energy Foundation
Charlotte, NC
The Duke Energy Foundation funds workforce and local economic development, disaster resilience, conservation, clean water, and economic opportunity in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. Its 2024 grants had a median of $25,000; applications for grants of $20,000 or less are accepted year-round, after applicants discuss proposals with a state representative.
Assets
$1.9M
Grants
41
Total Given
$25.6M
Shiel Sexton Foundation Inc
Indianapolis, IN
Assets
$711K
Grants
4
Total Given
$56K
Maurer Family Foundation Inc
Carmel, IN
Assets
$878K
Grants
80
Total Given
$144K
Central Indiana Community Foundation Inc
Indianapolis, IN
Through its funds and collaborative entities, CICF supports a broad range of charitable work, including equity, food access, childcare, arts, nature, and youth programs, primarily in Central Indiana. Its 2024 grants had a median award of $25,000; some funds offer competitive applications, while others are invitation-only, and CICF itself does not directly award grants.
Assets
$583.5M
Grants
525
Total Given
$31.1M
Nicholas H Noyes Jr Memorial
Carmel, IN
The foundation funds charitable organizations and educational institutions in arts and culture, education, health and human services, civic and community service, religion, and environmental initiatives, primarily in greater Indianapolis and central Indiana, including Indiana colleges and universities. In 2025, grants ranged from $2,500 to $300,000, with a median of $10,000. It accepts unsolicited requests through a letter of intent during designated application windows; full proposals are by invitation only.
Assets
$157.9M
Grants
305
Total Given
$6.4M
More similar funders
More Funders in Indiana
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Lacy Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/lacy-foundation-morg_e273d9c6a93d436e9278182bbd6d2c93
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_237415837_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Lacy Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/lacy-foundation-morg_e273d9c6a93d436e9278182bbd6d2c93},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Lacy Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Lacy Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?